Challenge Update

BEGINNING MAY 1ST I WILL OFFER THE NEXT CHALLENGE FOR OUR CHURCH IN OUR DAILY WALK WITH GOD. THAT CHALLENGE WILL VE TO READ 1 & 2 CORINTHIANS. JOIN US IN THIS ADVENTURE TO A DEEEPER WALK WITH GOD AND OUR FELLOW BELIEVERS.

Acts 28

We have seen throughout the book of Acts the establishment of the church, the formation of deacons, and the sending out of missionaries. In addition, we have seen the greatest evangelist and missionary in history transform from a Christian hating, church destroying Jew to a fearless and faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Here the book closes with Paul shipwrecked on Isle of Malta. However, that is not where the ministry of Paul ends. While on the island Paul keeps ministering and healing while proclaiming the gospel. After securing passage on another ship and arriving in Rome, Paul makes his defense before Caesar which resulted in Paul staying in Rome for two more years but not in prison instead in his own house. During this time Paul has the ability to continue sharing the hope of Jesus and the urgency of salvation through Jesus alone. Earlier Paul traveled extensively to share the Gospel but now the Holy Spirit drew people to him for the opportunity to heal through Jesus and share the name of Jesus.

What we find through this great historical account is that regardless of the opposition before or around us, we must "press-on" with the intent of sharing the message of salvation through Jesus alone. The Alabama State Board of Missions has a mission statement that says, "We have One Mission - The Great Commission, One Program - The Cooperative Program and Many Ministries - Great Commission Ministries." This statement focuses on one purpose resulting in many achievements regardless of setbacks or difficulties. That is what we learn from Acts. The next great lesson is the our power to accomplish and succeed is not based on who we are but who fills us. Acts 1:8 said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Our power is from the gift of God. The final great lesson is that faithfulness to God will result in opposition from the world but also from the people inside the church who are not walking in the Spirit of God, but we must press on!

I hope this blog, though new has been a great experience for you these last 28 days. We will begin a new blog in the next week. I will announce Sunday where this new blog will focus. Thanks for the encouraging comments and support. May God bless you in your quest to be more like Jesus.

Acts 27

We see a vivid description of how Paul is aboard the ship sailing toward Italy for his appointment before Caesar. During the course of the trip they encounter preventive winds and storms. While Paul offers advice for the safe passage of the crew, ship, and cargo those making the decisions of whether to harbor for the winter or sail on farther go against Paul's direction. However, during the time of the journey the crew feared losing the passengers, many of which were prisoners. Once again Paul gives advice as well as testimony of what God had spoken to him. he states, "Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your lives, but only of the ship. For this night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me, and said, 'Don't be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And, look! God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.' Therefore, take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me." Although the journey was not easy, the result was just as the angel of God spoke, the ship was lost but all lives were spared.

When I compare the journey of Paul to my life I find parallels and encouragement in the midst of what can often be discouraging. For we see that Paul new what God spoke, but I wonder if he ever had doubts as I often find myself experiencing. Were there times when Paul quipped, "God are you sure this is going to work out as you promised? God are you still there? God did I misread your instructions?" As humans we often question God when the storms approach or when we face a challenging wind in our face. In times of such as this I am grateful for the testimony and accounts of Paul and others like him. I find myself quoting Proverbs 3:5-6 which says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths."

Is there a situation you face today in which you wonder where God is? Trust that he is wise in all ways. Is there a storm within which you are struggling to survive? Allow God to be your anchor and hope! Does it seem like every way your turn you find roadblocks? Seek God and trust His providential care.

Acts 26

Once again Paul gives testimony to his life before Christ, the crisis which lead him to Christ, and how his life has changed since meeting Christ. His defense is given to King Agrippa and his court. Agrippa listens intently as Paul describes the dynamic transformation which has taken place in his life. However, Agrippa explodes and asks Paul, "Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?" Paul tells Agrippa, "I don't care if it is easy or hard, I just want to see people changed and surrendered to Christ.". Paul's defense, is very compelling and passionate. The reason being is that he experienced what few people do, a transformational change. Many people if they were ever changed in the beginning have lost their edge. I remember as a kid watching my dad cut firewood with his chainsaw. Ever so often he would stop cutting and tinker with his saw. I didn't really understand why or what dad was doing until one day he explained how the teeth on the chainsaw would get dull aft a while. Therefore dad would have to sharpen the chainsaw blades to be effective in his task. Too many Christians are trying to cut wood with a dull and useless blade. We have seen too many interruptions and allowed to many distractions. Vance Havner explained it in no uncertain terms when he said, “We (Christians) are so subnormal that if we came up to normal, the world would think we were abnormal.” Interpreted this quote means in simplistic terms, "We aren't cutting the mustard!" The issue is that too many Christians would rather blend into their surroundings rather than stand up for what they believe is the true Word of God and all that it requires of godly believers. I recall the prophet Ezekiel referencing the search by God asking and looking for someone who would stand in the gap for His people. The nation was in an uproar because of corruption in leadership of the city and the church, not to mention throughout the land. However, He found no one willing to intercede for the lost. They would rather blend into the world than set themselves apart for Holy service! God is still looking for those who will stand in the Gap of this world; will you be that one who goes against the flow of the world?

Lessons Learned:
1. Be on guard at all times to share who God is and how He changed your life.
2. Today's normalcy by Christians is not the desired requirements of God, but His requirements are an abnormality to the World.
3. Go against the flow!

Acts 25

In chapter 25 we find the Chief Priests are still intent on killing Paul for speaking boldly about the salvation found in Jesus Christ.  They appear before Festus, who has replaced Felix as procurator of Judaea to secure Paul for the purpose of trying him and putting him to death through the Roman governmental rule.  The purposed method was to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem where he would stand trial.  However, they had plotted to have Paul killed in an ambush as he traveled from Caesarea to Jerusalem.  What an evil plot and evil intent is instilled inside of these supposed men of the Jewish leadership in the church.  No wonder Jesus called them a brood of vipers, serpents, wolves in sheep’s clothing, and even ascribed them as whitewashed tombs.  These men no more had their relationship with God driving and determining their lives than a snake is a vegetarian.  They had turned God’s religion into their religion of rituals, codes, and traditions.  This in turn bound them to perform a task rather than to seek a intimate personal relationship with God.  Therefore, they had no problem with hiring an assassin to execute Paul in a staged ambush as he travels. 

While we, as a civilized church and good Christian men and women, would never think to stoop to such a low level.  We have a much more palatable scheme.  Instead of outright killing our opposition, we needle them to death through gossip, rumors, and subservient tactics.  However, does God look at this manner of activity any differently than that of the Chief Priests?  Absolutely not!  In fact, scripture is bountiful in dealing with gossip, malice, divisive spirits, and strife inducing activity.  If we recall the beginning of the church in the early part of Acts, we see that church’s success was based on selfless acts of benevolence toward one another, unity of spirit, prayer, and submission to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  I contend that for the church to continue to see success in the 21^st century we must follow the same formula.

In closing, Paul stands firm in his defense that he had not done anything wrong to this point.  In fact, Paul states in verse 8 that, “Neither against the Jewish law, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned at all.”  In verse 10 he reiterates that he had done no wrong to the Jews.  Paul has a clear conscience that in all of his actions, he had been just and righteous seeking to be loyal to the leading of his Lord Jesus Christ.  The question for us today is, “Can we state that we are of a clear conscious in our acts toward God and one another?”

Lessons We Learned: 

1.      People will always seek to usurp their desires over those of God.

2.      We must be faithful to live a life of holiness towards God and man!

3.      Our manner of success in God’s mission is dependent upon selfless acts of benevolence toward one another, unity of spirit, prayer, and submission to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 24

The dispute between Paul and the Jewish leaders continues, this time is before Felix the governor. Ananias the high priest along with some of the Jewish elders came seeking to procure Paul for the purpose of disposing of him in order to put a stop to the sect they called The Way. However, Felix did not allow the manipulation of these Jewish leaders to cause him to release Paul from prison. While we would like to think that Felix's motive was pure, he had an ulterior motive. From time-to-time Felix would call for Paul and he would take this time to share the gospel with Felix. Scripture tells us, "As he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, 'Leave for now, but when I find time I'll call for you.'"

Unfortunately, this is the reply we often see in the church,"When I find time." The truth is we find time for everything we want but rarely make time for God. I recently read where the average person reads the Bible roughly 3 minutes a day compared to watching television for an average of 5 1/2 to 6 hours per day. There is no doubt that the statement Chuck Colson made regarding the church is true. Colson is quoted as saying, "The average church is 3,000 miles wide and one inch deep." At what point is the church going to realize that Christianity is not about what I want but about what God wants me to do and give. We have become a self-serving and self-promoting social club which doesn't care that people are dying and going to a sinner's hell every second. I shutter to think what God would say if He were to write a new set of letters to the churches of America. I believe the first thing He would say is what Alexander the Great told a young soldier he caught napping on duty who also was named Alexander. He said, "Son either change your name or change your ways!"

Lesson We Learned: We must grow deeper in order to grow up!

Acts 23

As Paul stands before the Sanhedrin once again he begins to speak boldly regarding his commitment and relationship with God. He states, "I have lived my life before God in all good conscience to this day." With this statement he infuriated Ananias the high priest who "ordered those who were standing next to him to strike him on the mouth." Paul's response was less the flattering or apologetic in the sorrowful state of the word. He gives Ananias a piece of his own medicine saying, "You whitewashed wall! (You hypocrite!) You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck?" You judge me for breaking the law yet you are just as guilty of breaking the law. Then Paul makes a strategic move after recognizing that both the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees were present, for these two divergent groups opposed one another on serious theological doctrines such as the resurrection and the existence of angels and spirits. He cried out, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead!". With this well pointed statement he created a divided house among these two religious groups. What a great principle we should all learn. As a group divided and fighting among ourselves we are useless in accomplishing any task. Yet, we allow our stance and often stubbornness to divert us from our appointed responsibilities.

While the two groups were fighting the centurion recognized the need to protect Paul from the groups and secured him in the barracks. Scriptures says God took time to encourage Paul the next evening by saying, "Have courage! For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome." This promise was to confirm that Paul would leave Jerusalem for Rome. God still had great plans for Paul. The moral of this portion of scripture teaches us that even in our darkest hour God can reach down and carry us through the difficulties life. There are not any people or problems from which God cannot deliver us, especially when He has great plans to use us. Let us claim Jeremiah 29:11 which says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Amen!

Lessons We Learned:
1. Regardless of how intimidating our circumstances might be, walk strong and be bold for God will not abandon His children.
2. In the opportune moment God will give us the needed words when we face opposition, trust in Him.
3. When God has plans for us, sit back and trust He will deliver you!